Abstract: Examining McDermott’s hypothesis that the earliest known images of the human body from the European Upper Paleolithic (Venus figurines) were self-representations by women. When examined, this proposal becomes so compelling that the only remaining question is, Why did it take so long to consider the logical possibility that a female point of view was involved?

Paleolithic Venus:

All of us look at the world and, at least partially, see what is inside our own heads. The the extent that we do not recognize this, we remain behind our cultural screens.